Image too dark on your monitor???

I took this night shot of the Maroon Bells (pre-dawn). The look I am going for is dark and moody but with visible definition of the mountains, trees and lake.

http://photos.imageevent.com/dereksurfs/aspensanjuansfall2006/huge/24Sep06_4772B.jpg

I do all my post processing on my 'non-calibrated' IBM thinkpad laptop. I know it would help to get a dedicated calibrated monitor. But it just isn't practical or feasable right now. On my thinkpad it has the perfect mix of dark and light and mood. But on my flat panel Dell monitor at work (also not calibrated) it looks too dark.

I am just curious if it is generally too dark on your monitor with the goal of looking moody at night?

Thanks

I like it. Of course, I tend to like the dark moody shots

It could probably use just a bit of lightening though. Not much, maybe just some creative dodging here and there.

Thanks David,

I just noticed I had originally created two slightly brighter images during post processing. But I opted for the daarker one because I liked the it seemed to represent the darker mood at the time. Maybe on *most* other monitors these look better:
http://photos.imageevent.com/dereksurfs/winter2003/huge/24Sep06_4772C.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/dereksurfs/winter2003/huge/24Sep06_4772D.jpg

If you like the others better please mention the monitor you are using. Also I may just need to touch up the original in certain places like the hills on the right. etc...

Thanks

Derek,

It does not look too dark on my monitor, I would think about cropping out the water because to my eyes it does not hold enough interest in the shot, make it a pano shot instead. My 2 cents!

Jody,

Thanks for the input. On my thinkpad screen at home the water has a lot more texture and color (greenish/blue) which adds to the mood. But at work on my Dell flat panel it looks dark/flat and less interesting. I guess it really varies from monitor to monitor. I may work on a blended exposure to bring out more of the color in the water.

Thanks

On my monitor, it does look dark, but maybe that is intended.
I second the cropping suggestion.

Momo,

The intentional look is dark (which it was), but to still have visible color variation between the water, sky and mountains. I can see all this on one monitor verses another. So I really want to keep the water in the frame as long as the greenish/blue color/hue and texture is visable. This adds to the mood IMO *if* it can be seen.

Thanks

Man it was totally too dark then I turned my screen on! LOL I think for what you were going for the exposure was fine, however I think it just is lacking a jab of color on the peaks. About 15 minutes after you took these shots there was a slight hue of red on the peaks that would have given you that Jab. I have one similar in intent that i have yet to work up for the web and will show you what I mean when I get it done.

Compositionally and expressively you captured what you set out to do and i really understand what you wanted from it as I tend to be drawn more to this theme.

Thanks James,

I think on the right monitor and then with the right printing process the color will come out while still maintaining the pre-dawn mood.

I do have other shots I took after this one which I haven't fully processed yet. This shot was taken at 5:28AM. I have another shot I did PP 10 mintues later. It is however quite a bit brighter (may just be my PP though). It definately has a different look - not as dark and moody. Here it is:
http://photos.imageevent.com/dereksurfs/aspensanjuansfall2006/huge/24Sep06_4777BCr.jpg

I like the darker ones also because they give a different look and feel to the Bells that day. But I am still working on tuning them.

I look forward to seeing your shots of that morning once you have a chance to process them. It was cold but beautiful prior to sunrise that morning (and of course during and after as well).

I like the overall mood of the shot. It looks good on my screen, I can still see detail in the dark areas.

4777Bcr get my vote. It's the one I would prefer on my screensaver.

Art Lund

I agree with Art on the lighter version.
I just prefer the additional detail in the shadow areas.

Thanks guys,

I like them both for different reasons. The darker one seems more mysterious, stirs a little more emotion when I look at it on my better monitor. It reminds me of what it was like to stand out there in the cold looking out at the grand scene in the dark.

The lighter one still has some mood to it (10 minutes later) and really captures more of the fall colors seen during the day.

I am just glad I kept shooting before the sun hit the peaks.

Thanks again for the input.

I like the last one the best, but can see the appeal of the darker ones for you. If you're looking at an image and recalling your personal experience with the scene, that's quite a different situation than if you're looking at an image from the perspective of wanting it to appeal to a broader audience.

If I went through my collection of images and grouped them into 1) my personal favorites and 2) images that I think would sell well, I'd end up with two very different groups of images.

It was nice meeting you up there, Derek!

Thanks Rick,

It was good to meet you and many of the forum members up at the Bells. Even though it is such a mecca and sometimes over hiped, those conditions were hard to beat.

I think I know what you are talking about regarding two different categories of photos. I am only an amateur hobbiest though. So I guess I really don't think about this too much. The majority of stuff I shoot will be used for family/friends, etc...

I can't deny wondering if I might try and sell something someday. It has just never really been a goal. Photography is my outlet verses a way to earn $. I guess it would be really cool to earn something from what I enjoy though.

That is why I like this forum so much. The quality of the stuff that I see is very professional/high and it motivates me to improve. Darren Kilgore's thread on his latest big print sale is a perfect example:
http://www.npcolorado.net/forums/showthread.php?t=67

Talk about high quality and polished! I guess part of going to the next level for me means I need to stretch my brain a little and think outside of my current box.

Thanks again for the input.

I like the dark moody feel. I've got lots of definition on my monitor, but I think I might like it even more with a little very light dodging on the mountain.